Printing machine



April 23, 1940. I c. E. WYRICK 2,198,581

PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug.29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR(2/2 yra/y [MOP/6K ATTORNEYS April 23, 1940.- c. E. WYRICK PRINTING.MACHINE Original FiledAu 29, 1936 7/4liiii lvvll fiif11514591555475;

IIVVE/VTORv KMYra/V 5/05/64.

A TTORNEYS Patented Apr. 23, 1940 v UNITED STATES PRINTING MACHINEClayton E. Wyrick, Wyandotte, Mich.

Original application August 29, 1936, Serial No. 98,514. Divided andthis application January 3, 1938, Serial No. 183,095

11 Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines and particularly to theprovision in web, strip or sheet printing machines, of roller meansparticularly adapted for supporting a freshly printed paper surfacewithout blurring or smearing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such supportingroller means particularly adapted for engagement with and relativemovement with respect to freshly printed surfaces without blurring orsmearing the ink on the supported freshly printed surfaces.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, in such structure,permanent surfaces on the roller supporting means for the achievement ofthe above advantages.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such structure whichis of cheap and simple construction, which is durable and long-Wearingand which requires no servicing or treatment during the life thereof.

These and other objects and advantages will appear from the followingdescription taken in connection with the drawings.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 98,514,filed August 29, 1936.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a web or strip printing machine, withattached stacker, for use in which the supporting roller of thisinvention is particularly adapted for use;

Figure 2 is an elevational view in section of a section of the machineshowing, in end elevation, a supporting roller according to thisinvention in its operative relation;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a web supporting shaft with a pair ofroller means thereon, which roller means are shown in section;

Figure 4 is a similar view, but showing the Web supporting shaft partlyin section;

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the shaft and roller structure shown inFigure 4, as seen from the left of Figure 4, looking toward the right;and

Figure 6 is a similar view, but taken from the right of Figure 4,looking toward the left.

Referring to the drawings in detail and with reference particularly toFigures 1 and 2, the printing machine is supported on the table I whichi supported by the legs 2 having a shelf 3 rigidly attached thereto.Rigidly attached to the under side of the table I is the electric motor4 which provides power for operating the machine through the belt 5. Themachine comprises a base frame generally designated 6 and a 5! pluralityof printing units generally designated I which are superposed thereonand which have common operative connection with the pulley 8 which isdriven through the belt 5 by the motor 4. The base frame contains analigning chamber for the webs 9 which are led therein from 5 the packIll supported on the shelf 3. The aligning chamber, shown in section inFigure 2, includes the guide plate I I over which the webs are led intothe chamber and the'slidable aligning frame having its side membersdesignated I2, 0 which supports the exterior guide roller I3 and aplurality of interior guide rollers I4 having switch means associatedtherewith and operative upon exhaustion of the web passing about anyroller I4 to cause the motor 4 to be automatically 15 stoppedimmediately upon exhaustion or breakage of any of the webs 9.

In Figure 2, a single, lower printing unit I is illustrated in sectionand, as therein shown, it comprises a frame having side rails I5 pivoted20 on the brace rod I6 which has its ends secured to the sides of thebase frame 6. The printing unit has a trackway II formed on each siderail I5 for supporting the rollers I8 and I9 of the carriage. Therollers I8 are rotatably sup- 26 ported upon the brace rod 20 of thereciprocable carriage, while the rollers I9 are supported upon the rod2I. Reciprocation is imparted to the carriage through the rod 2| bymeans of links 22 pivotally attached at one end to a rod 2| 30 andpivotally attached at the other end to a sprocket chain 23 which issupported at one end by a freely rotatable sprocket and at the other.end by a sprocket 24 which is fixed to the axle member 25. The axlemember 25 is provided 35 with a gear 26 and is adapted for operativeconnection through other gearing to the motor 4.

It will thus be seen that, when the motor 4 operates, the shaft 25 isrotated to cause travel of the sprocket chain 23 which, in turn, causes40 reciprocation of the rod 2| to which the carriage is attached. Thecarriage has side or end plates 21 which are secured in suitable spacedrelation by means including the rod 20. The rod 2| is rotatable withrespect to the side or end 45 plates 21. At its rear end, the frame ofthe printing unit I is provided with a web supporting guide roller 28which is secured at opposite ends to the upper part of the frame andwhich has associated therewith brake means 29. 50

At the opposite end of the printing unit are guide rollers 28'non-rotatably secured to the shaft 25 and having associated therewiththe roller 30 which is adapted to engage the upper surface of the web 9.Associated with this roll- 5.;

7 9 with carriage 32, the brakes 29 and 3i are set er 39 is brake means3i. The carriage which is generally designated 32 has thereon aswingably .mounted roller 33, beneath which the web 9' is terminedamount of ink to the ink transfer roll-v ers 38 which are mounted in thecarriage 32. Associated with ink transfer rollers 38-is the spreaderroller 39 disposed therebetween and resting thereupon.

Also secured to the top plate 611 forwardly of the ink fountain 36 isthe type or printing plate 40. The upper surface of the printing plate40' forms the printing surface thereof. During the operation of themachine, the webs 9 are led over the respective guide rollers I4 in thealigning chamber and thence over guide rollers l3, guide rollers 28 andthrough the carriage 32, under roller 33 and over supporting rollers 34and thence over rollers 29 and into the stacker, generally designated4|. The carriage is provided with an upwardly directed plate 42 which isadapted to cooperate with the clamping roller 43 rotatably supported atthe outer end of the arms 44 which are pivotally secured to the rod 45extending between lever arms 46 secured to the transverse rod 41.

During operation of the machine, the carriage 32 is reciprocated fromleft to right and then in reverse direction, as seen in Figure 2, andduring the forward motion, or from left to right, the clamping roller 43is thrust toward the plate 42 to clamp the web 9 to the carriage 32. Thebrakes 29 and 3| are released and as the car- 'riage proceeds to theright, it carries the web 9 therewith, a predetermined amount, dependingupon the adjustment of the releasing means for the roller 43, and thenit is released.

At the end of the forward travel of the web to lock the web 9 to theprinting frame; and, as the roller 43'has been previously released fromengagement with the paper, rearward travel of the carrier takes placeindependently of movement of the web 9 which is secured in stationaryrelation by engagement of the brakes 29 and 3| therewith. Upon therearward movement of the carriage 32, the roller 33 is moved downwardlyin such manner as to progressively press the web 9 against the upperface of the printing plate 40.

The rearward movement continues until the ink transfer rollers 38 travelover the ink supply roller 31 of the ink fountain 36. Upon the nextforward movement of the carriage 32, when the web 9 is clamped thereto,and is being moved thereby,

the ink is transferred from the ink transfer rollers 38 to the printingplate 49 to prepare the plate 40 for printing an impression upon theunder side tion in which the roller 34 is adapted for use. As will beunderstood from the above description,

the rollers 34 must support the lower side of the web 9 immediatelyafter it has been removed from engagement with the inked face of thetype .of the printing plate 40, during the reverse movement of thecarriage 32. Inasmuch as the inked impression on the lower surface ofthe web 9 must then be engaged by the rollers 34, it is necessary thatthey be so formed as to provide satisfactory support for the freshlyinked surface of the web 9 without, however, causing blurring of theprinting thereon.

In order that the above described support of the freshly inked surfaceof the web 9 be achieved, without blurring, the rollers 34are-providedat each end with flanges 48 which are of triangular section, as shown inFigures 3 and 4, and which are provided with line peripheral serrationsor teeth49. These serrations provide an interrupted annular supportingsurface for engagement with the freshly printed surface of the web 9,and travel of the rotatable rollers 34 over the freshly inked surface oftheweb 9 may, therefore, occur without blurring of the freshly inkedsurface. The body of the rollers 34 is cylindrical and the flanges 48 atopposite ends thereof are formed integrally therewith. The centralcylindricalbore 50' of the rollers is adapted for close but axiallyadjustable engagement with the exterior surface of the roller supportingshaft 35, and at one end opposite end and the extreme ends of the shaft35 are reduced at 3517. These reduced ends are adapted to be rotatablysupported in the side or end plates 3'! of the carriage 32.

In order to provide for adjustably supporting the rollers 34 on theshaft 35, a flat spring member 52 is provided, which has each end 53thereof turned upwardly and the central portion 54 thereof bowed. Oneend portion 53 of each spring member 52 is adapted for disposition in agroove 5! in the roller 34, while the central bowed portion thereof isadapted for engagement with the bottom of the groove 35a in the shaft35.

The

opposite end 53 is adapted to closely engage the shaft 35 againstrotation with respect thereto, I

while resiliently maintaining the roller 34 in adjusted position axiallyof the shaft 35. The rollers 34 are thus axially adjustable on the shaft35 and non-rotatable with respect thereto.

As above described, the provision of the serrations 49 on the flanges 48thereof provide interrupted surfaces engageable with freshlyinked'surfaces to support the freshly inked surfaces without blurring thereof.The triangular annular sections of the flanges 48 with the serrations 49form spaced radial tooth surfaces which remain permanently operative toachieve theabovedescribed advantages throughout the life of the roller.As the roller is formed of suitable metal such as iron, steel, bronze,brass orthe'like, the life thereof is, therefore, substantial.

Due to the fact that the serrated surfaces. of

the rollers 34 are movable over the paper surfaces of the ,webs 9, orvice versa, there is no appreciable friction created therebetween and,therefore, no appreciable wearing away of the serrated surfaces of theroller. 34.";

It is, of course,.to' beflunderstood'that the above. -described use ofthe principles of this invention merely illustrative andthat theprinciples thereof maybe applied to various widely different structuresfor the achievement of the printing machines, multigraphing machines orthe like, or typewriting machines, where it is desired to avoid blurringon surfaces recently printed or provided with legible or visibleimpressed or otherwise applied characters, designs or the like.

It is furthermore to be understood that, while the roller of thisinvention has been described as formed of metal, it may be formed ofother ink resistant materials such as hard rubber, phenolic condensationproducts, synthetic resins or the like and, where desired, of othervarious nonrigid or resilient materials.

It will be understood that the above-described structure is merelyillustrative of the manner in which the principles of my invention maybe utilized and that I desire to comprehend within my invention suchmodifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A non-smear member for engaging and supporting a wet inked websurface comprising a roller having a plurality of axially adjustablesurface portions with fine radially disposed teeth thereon for providingan interrupted annular supporting means for said wet inked Websurface.

2. A non-smear member for supporting a wet inked. surface comprising aroller shaft having enlarged spools mounted thereon and provided ontheir peripheral surfaces with fine serrations, said spools beingaxially adjustable.

3. As an article of manufacture for use as a non-smear paper supportingroller, a cylindrical body slidably and yieldably secured to a centralaxle and having an integral enlarged serrated flange, said serrationsbeing spaced from the body thereof to provide spaced pointed supportsfor said paper.

4. As an article of manufacture for use as a non-smear paper supportingroller, a cylindrical metal body having spaced integral enlarged finelytoothed flange means with the teeth thereon disposed radially andextending outward from the body thereof, said body being resilientlyattached to an axle shaft so as to be adjustably retained thereon.

5. Non-smear supporting means for wet inked surfaces comprising arotatable supporting shaft, a spool member thereon non-rotatable withrespect thereto and axially adjustable thereon, and having annularlydisposed fine peripheral serrations on said spool member spaced from thebody thereof and supportingly engaging the wet inked surface.

6. Non-smear supporting means for wet inked paper surfaces comprising arotatable supporting shaft, a plurality of spools axially adjustable andyieldably mounted thereon, and outwardly extending annular toothedsurfaces on the outer edges of said spools spaced from the bodiesthereof and supportingly engaging the wet inked surface.

7. Non-smear supporting means for wet inked paper surfaces comprising afreely rotatable supporting shaft having axial grooved means therein, acylindrical roller member having integral finely toothed flange meansand having a central bore receiving said shaft, and a spring memberdisposed in said bore, extending into said groove for frictionalengagement with a wall thereof and rotatably secured at one end to saidroller.

8. Non-smear supporting means for wet inked paper surfaces comprising afreely rotatable supporting shaft with an axial groove therein, aplurality of cylindrical roller members with integral, outwardlyextending finely toothed flange means and a central bore receiving saidshaft, and spring members in said bore extending into said groove andfrictionally engaging a wall thereof, said spring members each havingone end nonrotatably secured to an end of a roller.

9. In a printing machine comprising a printing plate, carriage me'ansreciprocable above said plate and means on said carriage forprogressively engaging a paper strip with said printing plate, theimprovement which consists in providing a non-smearing supporting meansfor the wet ink paper surfaces, said supporting means comprising afreely rotatable supporting shaft having axial groove means therein, acylindrical roller member having integral finely toothed flange portionsand provided with a central bore for receiving said shaft on which ismounted a spring member disposed in said bore and extending into saidgroove for frictionally engaging with a wall portion thereof androtatably secured at one end to said roller.

10. In a printing machine comprising a printing plate, carriagemeans'reciprocable above said plate and means on said carriage forprogressive- 1y engaging a paper strip with said printing plate, theimprovement which consists in including a non-smearing supporting meansfor the wet inked paper surfaces, said supporting means comprising afreely rotatable supporting shaft with an axial groove therein, aplurality of cylindrical roller members with integral outward extendingfinely toothed flange means thereon and a central bore for receivingsaid shaft, and spring members in said bore extending into said grooveand frictionally engaging the wall portion thereof.

11. In a printing machine comprising a printing plate, carriage meansreciprocable above said plate and means on said carriage forprogressively engaging a paper strip with said printing plate, theimprovement which consists in including a non-smearing supporting meansfor the wet inked paper surfaces, said supporting means comprising acylindrical body having a spaced integral enlarged finely toothed flangemeans with the teeth thereon disposed radially and extending outwardlyfrom the body thereof and wherein said body is slidable longitudinallyof a supporting shaft for axial adjustment.

CLAYTON E. WYRICK.

